Even a good quality wine has a lifespan. Its duration depends on many factors, from the type of wine to the way it is stored.
Factors affecting the lifespan of wine
The lifespan of a wine depends on the type of drink, its strength, the balance of sugar, acid and tannins, as well as the country of origin. White wines are stored for 2 to 5 years. The exception is some varieties that can be aged for more than 20 years (for example, "Burgundy White Chardonnay").
Red wines have a slightly longer shelf life, for 2-10 years. But even among red wines there are well-known centenarians, which can be aged and developed for 20-50 or even 100 years. These are famous wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux.
"Chateau Margot", "Chateau Lafite Rothschild", "Chateau Mouton", "Chateau Cheval Blanc" - amazing wines available exclusively to the wealthy public. Connoisseurs buy these drinks still young for further aging. After 10-15 years, the wines acquire an unsurpassed refined taste, and their price increases several dozen times.
There are also more affordable wines with good development potential. For example, drinks based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, which, when properly stored, reveal their bouquet for 5-7 years or more.
The oldest bottled wine was discovered in 1980 during excavations in Xinyang (China). The drink dates back to 1300 BC.
The wine's lifespan also depends on the country of origin. This is due to the climatic conditions and the quality of the soil on which the grapes were grown.
How long can wine be kept
Proper storage of wine helps to increase the lifespan of the drink. An unheated cellar is an excellent wine storage, but not everyone has such premises. They can be replaced by special cabinets for storing wine with climate control. They come in different capacities, from 16 to 600 bottles. Such a cabinet provides the necessary conditions for placing a collection of your favorite wines (the right temperature, protection from light, horizontal position of the bottles), which allows you to correctly and successfully store the drink for a long time.
However, it should be remembered that not all wines improve their qualities during long-term storage. Some varieties need to be eaten young, others require mandatory aging.
Good wine can last for many years, improving its taste and aroma. However, once the bottle is opened, the shelf life of the wine is very short. The reason for this is the oxidation process. In most cases, wine after opening can retain its quality for about 2-3 days.
